Air distribution outlet



1386- 1951 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Filed June 3, 1947 m R v m M mm m W 1 1 m M .F

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Patented Dec. 11, 4951 UNITED-'4 PATENT OFFICE.

Walter ,.-Kennedy,. Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 3, 1947, Serial No. 752,040

. 3; Claims. 1. I This invention relates to an air distribution outlet having an inner portion adapted to be separated from an outer portion to permit cleaning of the outlet or adjustment'of the parts thereof.

The'primary object is to provide a novelhinge mounting which facilitates separation "of the inner part of the outlet for cleaning or thetlike without the necessity of complete detachment of such inner part. I v 1.

'A more detailed object isto provide ahinge mounting which permits separation ofithe inner unit simply by loosening a pairofscrew elements.

Anotherobject is to duplicate the hinges so as to permit swinging of the inner part of the outlet to an out of the way position by releasing the connection to eitherset of hinges;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with'the accom While the invention is applicable to various types of air distribution outlets; it is shownflfor purposes of illustration incorporated in an outlet of rectangular shape comprising an outer part It adapted to be connected to an air supply duct H and an inner part I2 normally disposed within the outer part and cooperating therewith to form one or more passages 13 through which air from the supply duct. is delivered into a room.

The outer part In comprises two laterally spaced walls-; I rigidly connected at opposite ends by wal1s-- I5 and cooperating therewith to? f0 :m'a rectangular neck adapted for connection' to 1a flanged branch I6 of the air supply duct. The lower portions of the side wall flare outwardly and are curled at H for abutment of the top of the bend with the wall of the room into which the air is discharged from the outlet.

The inner part [2 of the outlet comprises flaring side walls l8 connected by end walls 19 and substantially paralleling the outer walls I4 to define the air passages l3. In this instance, a deflector plate 20 extends along the center of the inner unit and cooperates with the walls I 8 of-to form the other air passages l3.

Iii-accordance with the present invention, the inner part I2 is pivotally connected to the outer 5 part Hi to swing downwardly away from the latter about either of two axes 2| and 22 extending along the outer edges of inner side walls 18. The hinges are formed by four L-shaped brackets 23 having flanges 24 lying against inwardly de- 0 pressed portions 25 of the end walls l5 and pivotally connected. to the latter by rivets 2B, friction washers 21 serving to avoid looseness at the hinge" joints. The rivets 26 are located above the plane of the open end of the unit so that right angular 15 flanges 28 on the brackets 23 will engage the top of the walls [.8 and locate the inner part l2 of theunit in proper relation (Figs. 1 and 3) with re The flanges 28 are punched out to form holes 29 which are threaded-- spect to the outer part In.

0 to receive the ends of screws 30 projecting through larger holes 3| in the inner side walls l8 adjacent the ends thereof, with the heads of the screws accessible from the undersides of the walls l8.

into the corresponding brackets 23 and tightened position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When it is desired to separate the inner unit so as to gain access to the interior of the outer unit In, it is only necessary to loose the two screws on either side of the inner unit until they are released from their brackets 23. Then, the inner unit is free to swing downwardly about the axis on the other side of the unit which then remains suspended from the other set of brackets as shown in Fig. 2. To thus gain access to the interior of the outer unit, it is unnecessary for the workman to remove any fastening elements or hold the inner unit as it is being separated.

The normal assembled relation of the parts may be restored simply by swinging the inner unit [2 reversely and upwardly against the bracket abutments and the turning the screws 30 whose threaded-ends are thus automatically brought into engagement with the threads of the 55 bracket holes 29.

theretheir threaded ends always projecting from the upper sides of the walls in positions to enter theholes 29 of the brackets.

Normally, all four of the screws are threaded so as to.clamp the inner part l2 in the closedv If the screws on the other side of the inner unit are loosened and this side of the unit thus released, the inner unit will thus swing downwardly about the axis 22 and remain suspended from the other side of the unit. Thus, it is immaterial which pair of screws is released, and the workman may select those on whichever side will aiiord mostconvenient access 't'o'the' interior of the outer unit;

I claim as my invention:

1. An air distribution outlet comprising a rectangular unit adapted for connection with an air supply duct and having laterally spaced elongated outer side walls and end walls rigidly con necting the ends of said side walls,an inner unit disposed between said outer walls and having laterally spaced sides substantially coextensive and coacting with the respective outer side walls to form elongated air discharge openingsalong opposite margins of said outer unit, a pair of right-angular lczraceetshinged on eacn of said; end walls near theouter marginstherecf-toswing: in the planes parallel thereto, and a flangeon each of said brackets forming an abutment for one of said sides'of said inner unit and havingra' threaded aperture openingv toward such side, a screw journaled' on said side in a position to enter said aperture when the side 'is-in abutn'ient with the adjacent flange, the two brackets along either side wall'of said outer unit constituting a hinge-fors'aid inner. unit permitting. downward swinging ofthe latter when-the screws on the otherside of the inner unit arewithdrawnfrom their brackets.

2. An air; distribution, outlet comprising a 3B rectangular unit adaptedfor connection withan air supply duct and having; laterally, spacedelongated outer side walls and end walls rigidly con:- nectingthe ends of said side walls, an innerunit:

disposed between said outer walls and having 41) laterally spaced side's coextensive and coacting; with-the respective outer side walls to. form elongated' air discharge openings along; opposite: marginsof saidouter unit, four hinge members" pivoted on said end walls near-"the four corners 45 of said outer unit to swing about axes paralleling.

said openings; each of said members having a' right 'angnlar: flange engageable with said-inner unit'on theoutersurfaces of the -sides thereof to" limit the=inward-swinging of the inner unit; each 50;: 2,427,084

member also having a threaded aperture opening: toward one of said sides of saidinner'unit, and i screws permanently attached to the corners of said inner unit and journaled in the latter to enter the respective ones of'said apertures where 56 by to permit downward swinging of said inner unit by disconnection of the screws on either side thereof from their associated hinge members.

3. Apparatus of the character described having, in combination, an outer rectangular unit having downwardly flaring side walls and end walls spanning the unit at opposite ends, an inner generally'rectangular unit disposed within said "outer unit and having sidesfia'ring downwardly and laterally spaced inwardly from the respective side walls of the outer unit, the ends of said-inner unit being disposed adjacent the end walls ofsaid'outer unit, hinge elements attached to onesideloflsaid inner unit at opposite ends and entire-uppersuriace thereof, each of said elements having -an upstanding flange thereon lying adjacent and. paralleling the adjacent end wall of said outer unit, axially alined pins pivotally connecting said flanges and said end walls for swinging of said inner unit about an axis extendingalong the outer edge of one side wall of the unit; membersm'ounted on said end-walls aboveand atopposite-ends of the outer margin of the other side ofsaid'inner unit and havinginwardly projecting flanges thereon overlying the latter margin and formingstops for limiting the up.- ward swinging ofisaid inner unit about said axis,

said last mentionedflanges having threaded holes therein opening downwardly toward thefree margin of said inner unit, ancl screws-extending upwardly through said fre'e margin and thread-- ing-i' into said holes to hold the margin detachably against said stops.

WALTER W; KENNEDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,120,449 Vanderveld-- June 14, 1938 2,229, 74? Kurth Jan; 28, 1941 2,239,508 Sipp et al. 1 Apr. 22-, 1941- 22645556: Seal' Dec. 2, 1941 2,304,628 Damerel Dec. 8, 1942 2,316,541 1 Ahlberg Apr. 13, 1943 2,332,351 Serre" Oct; 19, 1943 2,359;021= Gampbell etal. Sept. 26, 1944 Alderman Sept. 9, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date GreatB-ritain i Oct. 20, 1932- 

